Hill End Weekend

Last weekend I had a wonderful time doing what I love most together with special people:

Fabulous ;o)

One Moment

Sometimes something happens

that goes deep under your skin,

making every cell jump

inside your human shell.

Sometimes something happens

that makes you feel alive

as you feel your heart

vibrating in resonance.

Cherish this moment

whatever it might be.

See the Here and Now

for what it wants to be.

Open up and feel the light

deep within your soul.

Breath and know love IS

deep within us all.

I find it hard to just do one thing at a time, but when I do I see that within this clarity new clarity arises. When we focus on something, it is possible to go deeper, to discover more of who we are. This doesn't happen - can't happen - if we rush around, trying to get on with things (usually more than one at a time), doing the usual. 

It happens if we take a moment to let things happen of their own accord while we allow ourselves to be who we are. It happens when we breath deeply, observe and are open to receive. We are lucky really, because if we don't, something will happen to make us stop. Something will remind us of the important things in our life. Something will make us look at what we have neglected. This is called Life - a blessing. It will always give us another chance to SEE if we dare to look.

So, make sure you LIVE your life! The moment is now!

Being a Sacred Clown

The sacred art of clowning is wonderfully described by Lex van Someren, who has many talents and shares his gifts with the world in many different ways. He helps to understand what it means to be a sacred clown and how to become one. He also informs about the origins of clowning and their relevance today.

Lex writes . . .

THE SACRED ART OF CLOWNING - The clown as a healer, as a mirror of Truth, as a door to a new awareness of Self 
(...)
The sacred clown is a universal archetype of wisdom, expressed through utmost simplicity. He or she is a facilitator, like a shaman, to bring out the inner clown, so that people can become more playful in their own lives.

He or she guides us back to a space where we can give new birth to our innocence - the inner sense of playing a tiny little part in that great big mystery of the universe.

He or she acts as a catalyst for truth and authenticity. Wherever such a clown comes in, it cuts like a knife, dividing that which is true from that which is not true. In this respect the Russian tradition of clowning speaks of 'a fool for Christ'.

As playful clowns we can journey through our physical reality into the heart and passed the mind, into another dimension of existence - the world of mystery, wonder and delight.

This approach to clowning is an artistic discipline - meditation. By entering the art process, listening to our innermost images, and birthing them through body language, movement and sound - visual poetry - we can contact the 'sacred' with integrity and simplicity, with a release into personal joy and gratitude.

“Take off your mask and be a clown … be yourself”. 

The sacred art of clowning has nothing to do with 'trying to be funny'. It is about being grounded and centred in our own identity, acknowledging our truths in relation to Universal Truth. It focuses on finding that inner relaxation, where we can let go and link-up with the stillness deep down inside. This requires a willingness to face oneself with honesty and sincerity, accepting both the light side and the shadow side of ourselves.

Sincere humour and delight will then appear of its own accord, by taking the many different facets, talents, passions and feelings of ourselves into a real creative and playful relationship with the world around us.
It’s about the innocent child within us wanting to dance and sing in the field, eager and full of potential and inner aliveness, blossoming in the 'HERE and NOW'. It’s about finding the sacred place of awe and wonder that the child occupies in all of us and among us.

Many psychological barriers and emotional blockages just dissolve in the spirit of play. And it is not a temporary thing. The mystical experience of clowning allows profound changes in our consciousness, which will greatly assist us in facing the challenges of everyday life.

The TAO OF CLOWNING implicates:

• Expanding our awareness of the physical and emotional body, of life-energy, and of our own 'circle in space'.

• Creating a limitless space where every moment is new and fresh, enabling us to discover new perspectives in life.

• Being allowed to fail, to be imperfect, which guides us into a natural state of just being - relaxation into existence.

• Seeing limitations as the gift of freedom to create, and as a source of inspiration for humour.

• In the act of wonder we express our gratitude for being alive. It also allows us to relate to material things as living beings, and to communicate and play with the invisible world.

• Playing with the world of dualities (yin-yang). Exploring the polarities in life, such as sadness, happiness etc., and exaggerating their expression. This can lead us into an experience of true Oneness.

• The power of simplicity and its creative application.

• Introduction of the art of timing, subtlety and delicacy, in relation to humour. Practising this art can lead to inner revelations of other dimensions of time and space.

• Learning to make contact with our deepest sense of Self and its creative power, and to stay with it in front of an audience.

• Entering a state of ecstasy through playful discipline.

• The non-verbal language of the sacred clown brings about a quality that can be called 'poetry of the soul'. The subtle and simple gestures, the artistic expression of feelings, the sense of beauty (aesthetics), the sound of the voice and the intuitive discipline of timing are the 'make-up' of the sacred clown. With this 'make-up' visual poetry - art - is created.

The Sacred Art of Clowning (in Germany “The Tao of Clowning”) originated in the 1970s through the work of Lex van Someren (Lexis the Mystic Clown). His performing and teaching, and those of Didier Danthois (A Fool at Heart), are helping people to re-connect with the clown as a teacher and healer who can touch souls in a playful, simple yet profound way. Now there is a growing 'family' of sacred clowns who are exploring ways to bring this art more alive in the world - both in the artistic context of theatres and other venues, and in the many areas of life which can be enhanced by this kind of creative expression.

Sacred clowning is like an ancient tree with many branches, for the archetype of the clown is deeply rooted in human history. The clown appears not only as an entertainer, but as an important part of social and religious customs in many parts of the world. Part of his role has been to point out aspects of human nature that lie hidden beneath the surface of life. One example is the court jester whose function was to remind the king that he had the shortcomings of any other man, another is the Native American clown who mimics people’s foibles, especially when they become inflated with self-importance. Clowns have always challenged 'normality' by being unconventional and behaving in ways that would shock the society of the time. Today’s sacred clown also challenges things that society takes for granted, by showing alternative ways to approach life in this materialistic and technology-obsessed era.

The sacred clown we are writing about is approachable - without the custard pies, aggression or cynicism of some of his peers and predecessors - but his message is uncompromising. He too sheds light on the shadow side of life, but the things that often lie hidden nowadays are qualities like beauty, innocence and true compassion. In Western society simplicity and the sense of magic and wonder have been driven underground by materialism and pressure to be rational and 'adult'. People easily lose the natural instinct for play and the wild imagination of childhood. This is what growing up is supposed to be about. Yet the world is poorer for it, and souls are suffering because society does not value the simple beauty of being fully human. The natural expression of joy and the sense of connection with each other and with the invisible world have largely been forgotten. This is reflected in contemporary visual and performance art, much of which presents only cruelty and hopelessness. Alternatively, 'new age' culture tends to focus only on the 'light', not always acknowledging the necessity of pain, conflict and limitations on the path of self-awareness and healing.

Healing is a process of becoming whole, which means accepting and learning to balance the opposites within us. While respecting the whole person, the Sacred Art of Clowning teaches the healing power in play and the natural humour born of innocence. This can be experienced through watching performances, or attending courses to explore one’s own 'inner clown'. It is a re-discovery of the 'way of the heart': - meeting the imaginative child within; honouring oneself and yet remaining playful; discovering ways to live honestly, joyfully and with compassion.

Sacred clowning honours the feminine principle - that which is perceptive, intuitive, all-embracing. It is sacred work which invites people to return to their original, unstained essence and to express the soul’s natural longing for creativity. A first clown workshop can feel like a joyous leap into liberation. However it is not always easy to break through years of suppressed feelings and numbed creativity, and there may be encounters with inhibitions about being expressive. The playful, warm and non-judgemental way in which sacred clowning is taught makes it an ideal medium to tackling such difficulties gently yet positively. It is not a therapy, but can have powerful therapeutic effects. For those who become deeply involved with sacred clowning, it may grow to be a central part of life - a spiritual practise, with the 'inner clown' as teacher. At this stage sacred clowning may call for discipline akin to that of a spiritual warrior - a centred readiness to meet life authentically and skilfully.

At the core of sacred clowning is the sense that each person is part of something greater - a source of being which connects everything, which many call God. In this book we speak of the divine in a way that leaves it open to the reader to choose a definition that feels right. We also use terms like the infinite, the invisible and the unknown, for each creative act brings the sacred clown to a moment of surrender to these mysteries; he does not know what will happen next, and nor does his audience. The sacred clown plays on the edge between the familiar world and the vastness of the cosmos; here he is challenged to let go of 'control' and trust whatever happens.

The cared clown’s journey is like an inner quest to re-discover his true, uncomplicated self. On this path he is nourished by many positive spiritual and creative influences. Clowns have been part of human society for maybe thousands of years, and the memory of these 'ancestors' helps to inspire and shape the identity of today’s sacred clowns. As we come into the 21st Century we are privileged to be part of a rich mixing and sharing of cultures, a breaking-down of artistic boundaries, making way for new, exciting possibilities to emerge.

However, despite past and present influences, the key to becoming a sacred clown is to unlearn - to put aside intellectual ideas and historical knowledge, and instead to cultivate a sense of inner freedom and spontaneity. From this state the true sacred clown is born. This 'natural' clown may learn certain skills as his tools, and may know about traditions and techniques, but his aim is to communicate his inner experiences in his own unique way. The language of sacred clowning is learnt by focusing on the body and listening to the spirit. From this starting-point grows each individual clown’s way of relating to others and to the world.

(...)
The result of this alchemy is a clown who, like a prism, can reflect different qualities at different times, but remains a unique individual. As Lex says,

“People often ask me what type of clown I am, but this does not feel like the right question. When I perform I sometimes feel like the intelligent Pierrot who thinks he has all the answers, and at others the naughty Auguste. However, the fact is that I created my own clown, and only later did I learn about all the clown traditions. The Sacred Art of Clowning seems to embrace all these types and make way for new ones.”

You can find out more about Lex on his website: http://www.lexvansomeren.de/SomerenGB/index.html

What is the Art of Sacred Clowning?

The healing power of humour has long been recognised but only in the past few years has it been supported by medical science. Everyone knows that 'laughter is the best medicine', and now international research has found real physiological benefits to patients.

The findings show that humour:

• has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory system, similar to exercise
• relaxes the muscles
• strengthens the immune system
• reduces pain
• helps promote a positive outlook and
• reduces stress.

It's a special kind of medicine!  

"Starting from compassion, care and being fully alive in the present moment, the Sacred Clown connects with heart, humour, joy and love, to re-discover innocence and simplicity. Going beyond fear, inhibition or resistance, we find light-heartedness and serenity by learning to trust, being authentic and spontaneous! Through clowning, playing, singing, dancing, using theatre games, voicework, mime, meditation and the warrior's energy, a Sacred Clown emerges in full celebration of love, life and laughter. - This is the joyfully crazy world of the holy fool!

The aim is to liberate self-expression, discover creative and light-hearted solutions to the trials of life with humour and compassion through the ability and responsibility to transform suffering to joy."  
~ Rachel Caine, www.clownwithin.com ~

What is Shamanism?

The best explanation I have found was written by Judith Seelig published on her website Women on Fire. Here it is:

The Shaman Explains . . .  

Shaman means 'the one who knows'. It comes from the name given to the traditional healers of the Tungus people of the Russian steppes, but the role of the shaman exists in many other cultures. He or she helps to regulate the relationship between humans and their environment, including elements like fire and water, birds, fish, animals, trees, plants, minerals and all other resources that support human life. The shaman's job is to maintain harmony in all realms: between humanity and it's environment, within humanity, as in the relationship between people and between different parts of society, and within the complex world of each individual. This last role is recognisably that of the healer, but the shamanic principals are the same: where one part dominates and causes weakness in another, or where weakness occurs for lack of relationship with the whole, the shaman re-balances.

 

This re-balancing happens through introducing, or reintroducing, the appropriate frequency. How does a shaman know what that is? Because she or he has some experience of the sound of the whole, the harmonic frequencies of life. It's that experience that forms the root of the knowing. No one can come to that place through learning, yet everyone can learn to undo some of the mental and emotional habits that might limit their own field of experience.

 

There are a raft of ways in which a person might encourage the state of consciousness that is free of personality. Mind-altering drugs, fasting, extreme fear (as in facing one's mortality) and trance-inducing rhythms are all part of the shaman's toolkit. In this way anyone can be apprenticed to a shaman, but learning how to be true to the selfless whilst living as the self takes practice, self-awareness and continuous self-discipline. The shaman bridges worlds and so must know something of the finite and infinite at the same time. It is this knowing that is of huge value to society.

 

Is it relevant to our society? I believe it is, if for no other reason than the depth of our disregard for the whole and our profligate use, abuse and neglect of other forms of life calls for the voice of the seer. Our myopic selfishness is gargantuan. Mostly because the cruelty of something like factory farming, the destruction of forests, the polluting of air, soil and water through industrial processes and the consequent suffering in others occur not in our neighbourhood but unseen, elsewhere in the world. We buy something neatly and prettily packaged. Imagine how it would be if you could feel the story in a piece of meat, or see the fallout of mining and processing as you tug on an aluminium ring-pull.

 

Because the shaman works with the invisible, the shaman is easily dismissed or derided by those who look for certainties. Sometimes the most appropriate way of introducing a particular frequency is in its material form, like a herb, or a drug made from a plant that is known to effect change in a particular way. But where the quickest, simplest remedy is the appropriate sound, the shaman is indefinable. That in itself makes some people fearful. There is plenty of evidence to show that the vibration of pitch or frequency affects matter, as in X-rays, ultra-violet light or audible sound. So the shaman that uses the voice, or an instrument that vibrates in a particular range of frequencies like metal bowls, bells, gongs, a drum or a pipe, is working in a specific section of the electro-magnetic spectrum. (That's the range of different speeds at which energy radiates and moves out from something, including us.)

 

So a scientist can define the sounds and observe any palpable consequences, but the reason why the shaman chooses a particular pitch is much more difficult to pin down. Is this instinct, personal preference, intuition, chance, guesswork or just mumbo-jumbo? Where the shaman uses her or his voice, the variables are even greater. Cause and effect are more difficult to define. The human voice has a huge range of modalities. There's the actual note, the varying intensity of the sound, its shape, its beginning and ending (consonant or vowel), the indefinable "colour" in the individual's voice, and the intention behind the sound. To say nothing of the shape that the shaman's body makes whilst using the voice. All of those things make the sound or sounds unique.

 

If the shaman lives in a community, others in that community will see how the shaman conducts his or her life. There might be awareness of how he or she treads softly on the earth, speaks rarely and with purpose, is tender and respectful of other forms of life, and has a stillness that can make the shaman seem HUGE.

 

By contrast, in our society the experience of meeting a shaman is likely to highlight difference. If you recognize elements that you appreciate and would like to live yourself, such as deep stillness or sharp clarity, then you're likely to be receptive. But if you feel unmet, uncomfortable and you compare, the shaman is not attractive.

 

Is this alterable? Probably not. The shaman is in service to the whole. The shaman does not change course so as to make people feel more accompanied in their separated, very particular state. But that separate condition, which is only a matter of perception, is a part of the whole. So there is always the possibility that the self-separated person can hear the song of inclusion all around them. That feeling of being included, of being a part of something, can come at any time. The shaman can function outside the framework of time and space. The consequences of what the shaman brings are not limited to the moment of action or interaction.

 

Just as love is invisble yet touches us in endless different ways, so too the shaman is hard to define. Attempts at analysis make the very concept increasingly elusive. If the shaman truly plays a part in re-balancing the whole, it will be in a way that defies definition. It will be beyond language. If we can describe it, then it is in the realm of the self.

 

The shaman is never self-appointed. Rather the shaman comes to a point in her or his life where the interests of the self cannot be met. Where the forceful power of unconditional love has the individual melting, or so thoroughly broken down that there is no starting place nor strength for resistance. If the shaman is to remind us of what is available beyond our finite minds, it will not be in language. That's why the shaman uses imagery, movement, sound and symbol to re-awaken awareness.

 

If you have a skill to pass on, or something to communicate, you'll teach. A shaman who wants to pass on learnt practices or to teach a way of perceiving creation will have students. But the person for whom there came a moment of no choice, save perhaps this way or death, has nothing to teach. The becoming a shaman was entirely personal. Unique. That person can only hope to enliven in others a similar appreciation of the unique self hand-in-hand with the Self that cares as much for the whole as it does for itself.

 

The drop in the ocean... no ocean complete without it. The drop... very little without the ocean.

When the shaman is singled out as a significant drop, she or he disappears into the ocean. In that sense the shaman has no followers, unless it is for the individual to follow the lead and drown the pain of separation by returning to the ocean of unconditional love.